The Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Christian Michel James in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to the AgustaWestland helicopter scam. Michel, who was extradited from Dubai in December 2018, has been in custody for nearly five years. The alleged scam involves a transaction of about ₹3,600 crore concerning the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters.
Supreme Court Earlier Rejected Bail Plea
Earlier, the Supreme Court dismissed Michel’s bail plea, ruling that his argument based on serving half of the maximum sentence, as per Section 436A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), was insufficient to secure his release. Michel had argued that he should be granted bail as he has completed half the prescribed jail term for the charges against him.
Upcoming Hearing in ED Case
While his bail plea in the CBI case has been denied, the Delhi High Court is set to hear the plea in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case on November 19. Michel has maintained that he is not required for further investigation and is willing to cooperate. However, both the lower court and the high courts have previously denied bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the potential risk of absconding. Michel has consistently claimed he did not evade the legal process.
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